Shelburne Community School fourth grader Lexi Hall, with parents Laura and Dave, received the Champlain Housing Trust’s Carole Pack Volunteer of the Year Award at the organization’s annual meeting at the Hilton Burlington on Saturday, Jan. 31. Photo by Jon Shenton, Champlain Housing Trust

At the Champlain Housing Trust’s January meeting, three volunteers were recognized for their work on behalf of the organization, which strives to provide secure and affordable housing to those in need. One of those distinguished citizens was Shelburne’s own Lexi Hall.

Hall, a Shelburne Community School (SCS) fourth grader, was honored with the Carole Pack Volunteer of the Year Award, given annually in recognition of exemplary volunteerism. Hall was recognized for her big heart and incredible kindness in assembling and donating activity kits for the children at Harbor Place in Shelburne. She reached out to the community for donations, and used the funds she raised to assemble two different kinds of activity kits, each catered to a different age group, which she then delivered with her mom. Lexi’s initiative and generosity inspired her community and made Harbor Place a little more like home for over 45 children.

In addition, Carina Driscoll was recognized with the Hilton A. Wick “Give Until It Feels Good” Award for volunteer fundraising in recognition of her outstanding leadership as Chair of the Board and the Community Relations Committee; her efforts resulted in strong attendance at HopeBuilders breakfasts and the full participation of all board members. Driscoll also played a key role at Cornerstone Luncheons and worked tirelessly on the Harbor Place Playground Campaign.

The Tim McKenzie Award for outstanding contributions to the advancement of perpetually affordable housing was awarded to Gretchen Bailey in recognition of Bailey’s career-spanning commitment to social justice and equity, especially in the affordable housing arena. She has served as a Legal Aid lawyer, assistant to Mayor Bernie Sanders, Assistant City Attorney for the City of Burlington, and most recently in constituent services for Senator Sanders. She co-authored the foundational legal memo enabling permanently affordable homeownership in the state of Vermont, resulting in making homeownership a reality for over 1,500 lower income Vermonters to date. Last but surely not least, she has brought her wisdom and legendary common sense to Burlington Community Land Trust as a founding board member.